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Cubs lose first instant replay challenge

The first regular-season instant replay challenge in Major League Baseball history resulted in an umpire's call being upheld Monday during the fifth inning of the Chicago Cubs-Pittsburgh Pirates game at PNC Park.

Cubs lose first instant replay challenge

March 31: First base umpire Bob Davidson and home plate umpire John Hirschbeck talk over headsets as a play at first base is being reviewed in the fifth inning of the Cubs, Pirates game. Cubs manager Rick Renteria requested a replay on an out call. The play was upheld.(Photo: Gene Puskar, AP)

The first regular-season instant replay challenge in Major League Baseball history resulted in an umpire's call being upheld Monday during the fifth inning of the Chicago Cubs-Pittsburgh Pirates game at PNC Park.

Pirates pitcher Francisco Liriano fielded the bunt and threw to third base to force out Nate Schierholtz. Third baseman Pedro Alvarez then threw to first base and got Samardzija by a step.

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Renteria called time out and approached Davidson and home plate umpire John Hirschbeck, the umpiring crew chief, and asked that the play be reviewed. Hirschbeck retreated to the Pirates' dugout and reached the replay command center at the MLB Advanced Media headquarters in New York.

Ninety seconds later, Hirschbeck signaled out.

Until this season, only home run calls could be reviewed, and only at the umpires' discretion.

But Opening Day brought several scenarios that will play themselves out this season. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez was the first to win a challenge, getting a safe call on Ryan Braun reversed. Shortly thereafter, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle won a challenge as well, getting a safe call on a pickoff attempt reversed as the Pirates-Cubs game remained scoreless.

And in St. Petersburg, Fla., we got a near-use of replay early in the Blue Jays-Rays game, and its mechanics were rather comical.

In the top of the third, Rays manager Joe Maddon walked out slowly after the Jays' Colby Rasmus got called safe at first on a close pickoff play.

While engaging first-base umpire Bill Welke in conversation, Maddon was conspicuously looking toward the dugout, where bench coach Dave Martinez was on the phone. After a few seconds, Martinez flashed the "cut it off'' sign, waving a hand across his throat.

Maddon then promptly concluded his "argument'' and returned to the dugout.

March 31: Umpire Ted Barrett, left, signals an out call after listening to the central replay booth in New York in the sixth inning game between the Braves and Brewers. An umpire's call has been overturned for the first time under Major League Baseball's expanded replay system, with Brewers' Ryan Braun ruled out instead of safe.
Jeffrey Phelps, AP

March 31: First base umpire Bob Davidson and home plate umpire John Hirschbeck talk over headsets as a play at first base is being reviewed in the fifth inning of the Cubs, Pirates game. Cubs manager Rick Renteria requested a replay on an out call. The play was upheld.
Gene Puskar, AP

March 31: Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen stands with Barry Bonds during opening day ceremonies. Bonds, and former Pirates shortstop Dick Groat, both former NL baseball MVP award winners with the Pirates, were in town to present the 2013 MVP trophy to McCutchen.
Keith Srakocic, AP